The Fourth of July

We had a VERY busy Fourth of July this year...so busy, that it was rather difficult for me to take pictures...I was too busy going from here to there, frantically cleaning, cooking, or administering first aid, and really just enjoying spending the day with my family and friends.

Jason and I started the day by running a 5K race in Weston. It was a lot of fun...I improved my time by two whole minutes, and Jason SMOKED it...coming in just UNDER 30 minutes, with a 9-and-a-half-minute pace time. I'm pretty jealous.

Then it was home for quick showers and over to the chapel for the annual Pembroke Pines Ward Waffle Stomp...the Fourth of July breakfast, Pine Wood Derby Race, and Volleyball Game.

Since none of our Derby cars placed, and we were expecting company for barbecue, we skipped the game part and headed home to spruce up for the evenings festivities. We had several families come over to join us for barbecue, and spent the evening chilling and talking, with several small fireworks shows to keep the kids interested until the BIG show after dark.

After fireworks, we all sang Happy Birthday to Jason (he swears it was his best Birthday Song ever with the off-key screeching of no less than 15 children...not all of whom are pictured above...and 7 adults) and enjoyed Coconut Cake.

It was a great way to celebrate our countries birthday...we LOVE July Fourth!!!

I'm On A Roll...

Wow...isn't it different now?

Shannan with no camera = No Blogging

Shannan with NEW camera = Excessive Blogging

When will it end?

I don't know...

But in my defense, I'm trying to catch up. This next post is about our countries birthday...the Fourth of July.

This year, we had a GREAT Fourth of July. We went to our wards party, which was hosted by the Browns. They live on a swimable lake...and the kids had a FANTASTIC time jumping from the dock into the lake...

and swimming out to the raft docked a bit off-shore.

At night, the surrounding neighbors lit off fantastic fireworks over the water...and the kids all laid on the giant raft and watched the fireworks go off above their heads.

What a great day!!

Have You Read...

I became a follower of a new blog the other day...

This new blog belongs to a friend of mine named Connie. Connie is a stay-at-home Mom of 5 kids, married to an awesome Hawaiian guy named Sione. They live in the Las Vegas area,where he works as an educator.

Connie joined the blogging world about 3 days ago...and has written 3 blog posts. Her blog is called "My Political Opinions".

W-O-W.

I always knew that Connie was cool. I always knew she was smart...and compassionate...and friendly...and creative...and lots of other good things. She is, after all, my friend. And as I've stated before, I have VERY good taste in friends.

But I just never realized how POWERFUL Connie was. I mean...I feel a little humble after reading her blogs.

That might partially be explained by the fact that I have to have an open dictionary in front of me to get through her posts. I haven't had to refer to reference material when reading something for pleasure since high school. So then some might say that reading her blog isn't pleasurable...but I say, Nay...I get up from the computer and feel...fulfilled.

Enlightened.

And a hell of a lot smarter.

So hey...if you get a chance...head on over to Connies blog. And bring your dictionary.

You'll be glad you did.

All Gave Some, Some Gave All...

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!

VOTE!!!

I'm copying this from a friend's blog...she sent it out and spoke of how inspiring it was. I watched it and felt truly humbled.

Its a video by CatholicVote.com. It's amazing. Now - I'm not Catholic, but I believe people of faith can unite in times of urgency...to put aside doctrinal differences for those basic, fundamental beliefs that all people who believe in God stand for. Please watch this video. Talk about it. And...

GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61wj4tJICcc

Please...our country is at stake...